You Don’t Need the Ocean to have a Successful Company Retreat

Companies swimming in cash can afford to take a business retreat to some exotic and tropical location. Imagine—golf, sipping Mai Tais and strolling the beaches at sunset. In order to be a successful company that could host such a business retreat, some work has to get done, right? While most of us can’t afford to take the company to faraway lands, we can host a retreat that produces results. Here are some tips for planning a successful business retreat.

Who should be invited?
Who gets to participate will depend largely on the goal of your retreat. You may only want the executive team to go if you are working on the big picture direction of the company. Or you may want to invite a certain department if the focus of the meeting will be on their area.

How long should you go?
A retreat can last from a half day to a couple of days. It really depends on your goals and what you want to get accomplished. Get the business done first thing in the morning and start getting creative later on. Be sure to mix up the agenda between business and brainstorming and throw in a few energizers to get the team through the midday slump.

Where should you go?
The point of a retreat is to get out of your routine so find a location away from your normal meeting rooms. If you have a budget for meetings, you can plan a trip to a nearby city and treat your employees to a nice dinner, a fun evening activity and overnight stay.

Retreats are valuable in getting your team excited about your company and the direction you’re heading. They promote team building by allowing employees some social time. Ultimately, retreats should give you a clear road map of a pathway to success for your company. And someday, your company can be poolside, Mai Tais in hand.